Bridging the Cybersecurity Divide: A Reskilling Initiative for Non-IT Professionals Through Adapted Cyber Range Training

This paper presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of a reskilling program in cybersecurity targeted at non-IT working professionals. Originally developed for IT students, the cyber range instructional material was adapted to suit a non-specialist audience in a collaborative program conducted by Shimonoseki City University in partnership with local industry and governmental bodies. Over a six-month period beginning in October 2023, participants engaged in a series of practical sessions that combined theoretical lectures with hands-on exercises, using a simulated network environment to execute various cyberattacks. Assessment data were collected from 13 participants through pre- and post-training surveys. These surveys evaluated comprehension of essential topics including backdoor attacks, CVE, IP addresses/ports, DMZ, and firewalls. The results demonstrated statistically significant knowledge gains (p < 0.01) across all measured domains. CVE and vulnerability management showed the most substantial improvements. The findings suggest that a structured, step-by-step approach that emphasizes incremental achievements can effectively elevate cybersecurity literacy among non-IT professionals. While the immediate educational impact is promising, further research is needed to assess the long-term application of the acquired skills in real-world settings and their contribution to career development.